Low Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Males and Females from a Sunny, Rich Country

Abstract

Background:Low serum vitamin (vit) D levels are common even in sunny countries. We assessed the prevalence and relationship of low vit D with cardiovascular risk factors in Qatar.Methods:Data were collected retrospectively from January 2008 and November 2009. In patients who had low vi t D (< 30 ng/ml ) , demographic and clinical profiles were analyzed and compared in males and females.Results:The overall mean level of vit D among 547 patients was 14.4±11 ng/mL. Among the low vitamin D group, 56% were females (mean age 48±12) and 44% males (mean age 49.6±13). Severely low vit D levels (<10 ng/mL) were found in 231 (46%) patients with mean age of 46±12 years. Compared with females, males with low vitamin D were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (38 vs 22%, p=0.001), dyslipidemia (41 vs 29%, p=0.007), myocardial infarction (5.5 vs 1.5%, p=0.001) and angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD) (53 vs 17%, p=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in the presence of low vit D, age and hypertension were independent predictors of CAD (OR 1.07;95% CI: 1.02-1.11) and OR 8.0; 95% CI: 1.67-39.82), respectively.Conclusions:Our study supports the widespread prevalence of low vit D in sunny regions. Low vit D is associated with 3 times increase in the rate of MI among males. Hypertension increases the risk of CAD 8 times in the presence of low vit D regardless of gender.

Vitamin D deficiency among the elderly: insights from Qatar

“…Several studies have reported VitD deficiency among different populations from the Middle East [12][13][14][15] . A report from Kuwait showed subclinical VitD deficiency among veiled women 16 .…”

Vitamin Deficiency Among the Elderly Institutionalized Patients

“…The imprecision at 56 and 19 ng/ml as measured by coeicient of variation was 8.7 and 13.2%, respectively [14]'. The Diazyme's 25(OH) D assay is one of the fast track diagnostic methods with complete testing results in less than 2 hours.…”

“…Vit D deiciency was deined as level less than 30 ng/ml which was further subdivided into mild (20-29 ng/ml), moderate (10-19 ng/ml) and severe insuiciency (less than 10 ng/ml) [14,21]. Patient characteristics and outcomes were analysed and compared according to the severity of Vit D deiciency.…”

“…In a previous study from Qatar, El-Menyar et al reported a high percentage (91%) of low Vit D level (<30 ng/ml) in adults (mean age: 49 ±12 years); they also found a strong association between low Vit D and hypertension [14]. Several studies addressed the association between low Vit D and high triglyceride (TG) levels, low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and the quality of HDL [18].…”

“…In fact, 86% of these subjects with multiple risk factors were vitamin D deicient. Several studies have reported Vit D deiciency among diferent populations from the Middle East [12][13][14][15].…”